A safety bill that makes sweeping changes to the Federal Aviation Administration's approach on safety passed in the House Tuesday.

The legislation, which follows reports of poor oversight and a cozy relationship with airlines, would make the agency adopt changes that include rotating inspectors and a two-year "cooling off" period for safety inspectors before they could work for airlines they oversaw.

"Consider this a first or initial legislative step in reversing the complacency over safety regulations that's set in at the highest levels of the Federal Aviation Administration," Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure and a co-sponsor of the legislation was reported as saying.

The legislation must go before the Senate for approval.

Ari Natter, Traffic World